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Suffrutices, the indumentum usually of stellate hairs. Leaves petiolate, the stipules subulate and caducous; blade polymorphic, subentire to 3-to 5-palmati-parted, the 1 or 3 median veins on the dorsal surface bearing near the base an open, rounded or oblong gland (extrafloral nectary). Flowers axillary, solitary or in small glomerules, sometimes in terminal racemiform inflorescences, the pedicels short or the flowers subsessile; epicalyx of 5 partly united bractlets; calyx cupuli-form, deeply 5-lobed, the lobes 1-nerved; petals 5, pink or purple; staminal tube about as long as the corolla, enlarged at the base, truncate at the apex, the anthers on short filaments, clustered subapically; ovary of 5 1,-ovulate carpels; style branches 10, the stigmas discoid, fimbriate. Fruits separating into 5 indehiscent mericarps, these trigonous-obovoid, coriaceous, the dorsum convex and densely glochidiate-echinate; seeds trigonous-reniform, glabrous.
Herbs perennial or shrubs, stellate. Leaves alternate; leaf blade orbicular or ovate, palmately lobed or sinuate, with 1 or more prominent foliar nectaries on abaxial surface. Flowers solitary or nearly fascicled, rarely racemelike, axillary or rarely aggregated on twig tips. Epicalyx campanulate, 5-lobed. Calyx 5-parted. Petals 5, stellate puberulent abaxially. Staminal column truncate or slightly incised; anthers numerous, on outside of staminal column only, nearly sessile. Ovary 5-loculed; ovule 1 per locule; style branches 10, reflexed; stigma discoid, apically ciliate. Fruit a schizocarp, subglobose; mericarps 5, ovoid, usually with spines, these each with a cluster of short barbs at tips. Seed 1, obovoid-trigonous or reniform, glabrous.
Fruit subglobose, of 5 mericarps ultimately separating from the torus; mericarps trigonous, obovoid, coriaceous, indehiscent, the convex back stellately hirsute and with glochidiate spines, the flat lateral surfaces striate.
Leaves petiolate, subentire, 3–5-palmatilobed or sinuous along the margin, palmately 3–7-nerved, with a conspicuous gland near the base of the central nerve; stipules small, linear to setaceous, usually caducous.
Ovary depressed-globose, hirtellous or glabrous, of 5 free 1-ovulate carpels; styles 10, reflexed; stigmas discoid, fimbriate at the apex.
Staminal tube equalling the petals, the lower portion dilated and united with the petals at the base; anthers subsessile.
Epicalyx campanulate, deeply 5-lobed; bracts lanceolate, acute, striate towards the base.
Flowers axillary, solitary or fasciculate or crowded towards the end of the branches.
Calyx cupulate, deeply 5-fid; lobes ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 1-nerved and keeled.
Petals rose-pink or mauve, stellate-pilose outside.
Seeds obovoid-trigonous or reniform, glabrous.
Suffrutices, usually stellate-pubescent.
